27 



It may be reasonably expected that this vigorous, wholesale en- 

 forcement of the law will tend to decrease largely the number of 

 fires from this source in the future. There are 56 farmers, anyway, 

 who will not burn their fallows hereafter in the close season, and 

 their neighbors have had a good opportunity this summer to learn 

 what they may expect, also, in case they violate this section of the 

 law. 



Of the incendiaries arrested, three are now serving a term in State 

 Prison for their offence. In some other prosecutions begun for this 

 crime we were unable to obtain a conviction. Among the different 

 causes reported by the wardens there are many attributed to fisher- 

 men, hunters, campers, etc. This may suggest that, as the firewar- 

 dens knew the source of these fires, some arrests should have been 

 made in connection with them. But these statements of the wardens 

 were based upon their opinion in the matter, and not upon any posi- 

 tive facts or information. While they had every reason to believe 

 that the fire originated as described, they could not obtain evidence 

 of the definite character necessary to secure a conviction of the sus- 

 pected parties. This will always be the case until we are authorized 

 to employ patrols who can follow and watch fishermen, hunters, 

 campers, and other persons who would be liable to start fires while 

 wandering through the woods. 



The forestry law of the State of New York so far as it relates to 

 extinguishing fires is a good one. It is admirably drawn, is well 

 adapted to the various requirements which it is designed to meet, and 

 it has been perfected by years of experience in its practical working. 

 It has been used as a model by the forestry departments of other 

 states, which have copied it in the main, making only such modifi- 

 cations ao their peculiar conditions or amount of appropriations made 

 necessary. While its various sections enable the Commission to use 



